T. Bilby is supposedly the author of the lyrics, not the composer. That's according to the index in Himnaro Esperanta; my English references make no mention of the author. I have no information on the composer of REJOICING, but the 1890 volume may possibly have some (doubtful, as usually Himnaro Esperanta gives composers' names where known for the tunes it prints; for the most part it's a text-only hymnal, but this is one of the 50 or so exceptions). But my guess is either the 1917 or 1919 hymnal cited will have both the whole text and fuller info on the author and the composer of whatever tune they used. Unfortunately, as far as I know no copy of either is in the Seattle area.

I have provided all the information I have about the hymn, except for the fact that it was mentioned in a discussion at a seminar for retired Lutheran pastors in Germany, attended by the Esperanto hymnist Rev. Adolf Burkhardt, who said all they had was the first line, and enlisted my aid to find out more. Which I am doing willingly, as I do want to post the Esperanto version, fully documented, in my own hymnal.

Yes, they were lachrymose, weren't they, those Victorians? ;-)

Liland